J Korean Med Sci.  2017 May;32(5):868-872. 10.3346/jkms.2017.32.5.868.

Mean Hand Grip Strength and Cut-off Value for Sarcopenia in Korean Adults Using KNHANES VI

• Yoo JI
• Choi H
• Ha YC

• KMID: 2375090
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2017.32.5.868

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to report age- and gender-specific distribution of the hand grip strength (HGS) using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VI-3 (2015) survey and determine cut-off values for low muscle strength of HGS of Koreans. Of a total of 7,380 participants, 4,553 were subjected to measurements of HGS, including 1,997 men and 2,556 women with a mean age of 49.3 years (range, 19-80 years). The mean ages of men and women were 49.0 and 49.5 years, respectively. HGS was measured using a digital hand dynamometer. It was defined as maximal measured grip strength of the dominant hand. The cut-off value for low muscle strength was defined as the lower 20th percentile of HGS of the study population. Maximum grip strength of men was significantly higher than that of women (40.2 kg in men vs. 24.2 kg in women, P < 0.001). The mean HGS was increased from the age of 19 to 39 years. It was peaked in the age of 35 to 39 years range for both men and women. It was then decreased after 39 years. The cut-off values of HGS in male and female elderly healthy populations were 28.6 and 16.4 kg, respectively. These data might be used as reference values when evaluating sarcopenia and assessing hand injuries.

Keyword

Dynamometer; Hand Grip Strength; Normative Data; Cut-off Value; Sarcopenia

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Aged
Female
Hand Injuries
Hand Strength*
Hand*
Humans
Korea
Male
Muscle Strength
Nutrition Surveys
Reference Values
Sarcopenia*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Selection process of study subjects from KNHANES VI-3.KNHANES = Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, HGS = hand grip strength.

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  Fig. 2 Determination of cut-off values (kg) in men (A) and women (B) using lowest quintiles (< 20%) in healthy elderly population.HGS = hand grip strength.

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  Fig. 3 Regional reports of HGS in men (A) and women (B) by age groups.HGS = hand grip strength.

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